When keeping tropical fish, one of the best practices is getting a bottom feeder. These fish will typically pick up any food particles that have fallen to the bottom of your tank and help keep its water clean.
Contents
Bristlenose Pleco
Bristlenose plecos are a commonly found tropical fish tank bottom feeder. They require minimal care and make excellent community fish due to their calm disposition.
They prefer the bottom of the ocean, so when creating their habitat you should keep this in mind. Make sure they have plenty of caves, plants and rocks for them to explore.
In their natural habitat, these fish eat algae and occasionally feed on small insect larvae. To replicate this behavior in captivity, you can give them algae wafers or plant-based pellets.
Bristlenose Plecos typically feed on 15% protein and 85% plant matter as their primary diet, which can be provided through algae wafers, sinking wafers, and some frozen vegetables.
Males of this species typically sport larger bristles at their center of head, while females only have very small bristles around their mouths. Therefore, it is recommended to always breed more females than males when breeding your canid.
Yoyo Loach
Yoyo Loach are popular tropical fish tank bottom feeders, coming from slow-moving Asian rivers where it prefers warm, acidic water with a pH level between 6.5-7.5 and hardness level between 3-10dGH (53-175 ppm). Their ideal habitat requires warm to hot climates with consistent currents in these rivers.
This species is omnivorous and can adapt to a variety of foods. It prefers processed flake and pellet foods but will also consume frozen, freeze-dried and live foods.
In captivity, they should be fed several small meals throughout the day. You can offer them dry, flake or live foods; however it should not be overfed as this could lead to weight loss and illness.
Yoyo Loaches make an excellent addition to any tropical fish tank when kept in groups of 4 or more. These peaceful fish will not display aggression or territorial behavior towards other fish, making them the ideal addition for any tropical aquarium.
Green Neon Tetra
Green Neon Tetras are a stunning and easy-to-care-for fish that make great additions to any tropical aquarium. Omnivorous in nature, they can be fed a variety of foods such as regular fish flakes and pellets, bloodworms, brine shrimp, tubifex worms, mosquito larvae and plants.
They are also quite peaceful creatures, making them ideal for beginners to keep. Additionally, danios, dwarf gourami, and Corydoras catfish make excellent companions.
Wild tetrafish typically spawn near the surface of slow-moving rivers and creeks using aquatic plants as a breeding medium. Female tetras scatter their eggs in the current instead of building nests like some other fish do.
Breeding these fish in captivity can be challenging, but it is possible. All you need is a tank with at least 79 degrees Fahrenheit, a sponge filter and plenty of plants for successful reproduction.
Apistogramma
Apistogramma are a group of small cichlid fish native to South America. In the wild, they can be found along rivers and streams around the Amazon basin as well as on the edges of larger lakes.
Aquarium fish are a popular choice due to their vibrant, colorful appearances and ease of care. Plus, if you’re not ready for something larger like reptiles or saltwater marine fish, they make great pets as well.
Males of this species can vary in color, but usually have a gorgeous gold body with bold black spots or stripes. They may also sport an attractive red tail.
Their color patterns can be highly vibrant, with some specimens boasting blue iridescent spots on their heads as well as vivid red markings.
Contrary to their bold appearance, this species of fish is actually quite gentle. They thrive in community tanks and can handle changes in water conditions quite well.
